butterfield



No. 626,I38.

Patented Mayv 3 0, |899. S. W. BUTTERFIELD. vLOG THAWING APPARATUS.

(Appliemziem med Feb. 2o, 1899.) (No Model.)

`n4: mams naps co. pHoro-dma, wAsNINTo u UNITED ,STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

SAMUEL W. BUTTEREIELD, OF THREE RIVERS, CANADA.

LOG-THAWING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,138, dated May 30, 1899.

Application iiled February Z0, 1899. Serial No. '706 ,157. (No model.) i

To @ZZ whom it may concern):

Be it known' that I, SAMUEL W. BUTTER- FIELD, a citizen ofthe United States, residing in Three Rivers, in the Province of Quebec and Dominion of Canada,have invented a new and Improved Log-Thawing Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved thawing apparatus, more especially designed for thawing logs to be used for making paper-pulp, the apparatus beingl very simple and durable in construction, arranged to permit of handling a large number of logs in an economical manner, and to insure a thorough thawing ofthe logs to permit of conveniently removing the bark therefrom Without undulyvdulling or otherwise inj uring the tools used for the purpose.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of my invention-is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a sectional side elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of part of the same on the line 2 2 in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the same on the line 3 3 in Fig. l, and Fig. 4 is a transverse section of a modified form of the im? provement.

The improved thawing apparatus is provided with a box A, made asuitable length and of a cross-section to permit the ready passage 'of logs through the box in alongitudinal direction. The box A is supported on a suitable framework B, and its ends are provided with self-closing doors O,preferably hin ged at their upper ends to the upper portion of the box, as is plainly indicated in Figs. l and 3, so that the doors can swing open when pressed on by a log moving into or out of the box and remain open until the log has passed into or out of the box. As soon as the log has passed, the door by its own weight will swing back to its closed position to retain the heat Within the box., The bottom A of the box is prefi erably made hopper-shaped, as plainly indicated in Fig. 3, and in a recess in said bottom A. is arranged one run of a carrier-chain D or other suitable conveyer adapted to carry the logs E through the box in the direction of the arrow a. The ends of the carrier or conveyer extend beyond the ends of the box, and the logs to be treated are fed or moved upon the conveyer by any suiti able means, the .logs extending in a longitudinal directiomso as to pass through the box while in this position. When a log passes to the entrance of the box, it abuis with its end against the door C to swing the same open, the door closing again after the log has passed into the box. Vhile the log is moving through the box it is subjected to the action of jets of steam issuing from pipes F, placed in the recess in the bottom A of the box on the sides of the run of the carrierchain, and similar pipes F direct jets of steam from lthe upper corners of the box, both sets of pipes being arranged longitudinally in the box, as is plainly 'shown in the drawings. The pipes are perforated at suitable intervals, so

that the log during its passage through the v box is subjected to the several jets of steam from the bottom, as well as from the top, so that the bark is readily thawed out, the log iinally leaving the box in a thawed-out condition to permit of conveniently removing the bark from the log previously to using the wood for making paper-pulp Yby any of the Well-kno wn methods.

If desired, the logs cut to certain lengths may be passed in a transverse position through the box, as shown in the modiiied form in Fig. 4f, the bottom A2 of the box being flat instead of hopper-shaped and having two rows of conveyer-'chains Dl for carrying the log through the box.

As shown in Fig. l, the conveyer-chain D passes over suitable sprocket-wheels D2 D3, connected by belt or other means with suitable machinery for giving the desired travel to the carrier-chain. It is understood,.how ever, that other suitable means may be ernployed for carrying the logs through the box A.

IOO

Having thus fullydeseribed my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A log-thawing apparatus, comprising a casing of a length and size to permit the passage of logs therethrough, a conveyer-in the; bottom of the casing for earryin g the logs through the casing, said eonveyer having its ends extending beyond the ends of the casing, apertured steam-pipes in the casing for de livering jets of steam upon the logs as they pass through the casing, andselt-elosingdoorsi at the ends of said casing, substantially asi described. A

2. A 10g-thawing apparatus, comprising ay easinghavin g a recessed bottom and vprovided with a self-closing door at each end, an endless carrier traveling in the recess of the bottom of the casing, and perforated steam-pipes arranged in the -recessed'bottom of the casing and in the upper part thereof, substantially as described.

3. A log-thawing apparatus, consisting of easing having a hopper-shaped bottom, the central portion of which isreoessed, and provided with hinged self-closing doors at its ends, an endless carrierchain extending through the easing and having one of its runs arranged in the recess of the bottom, and perforated steam-pipes arranged in the upper and lower part of the casing, the .pipes in the lower part being in the recess of the bottom of said casing, substantially as herein shown and described.

SAMUEL XV. BUTTERFIELD.

'Vitnessesz THEO. G. HosTER, JN0. M. RITTER. 

